Sponsored by Garden Stewards/Shepherdstown Public Library
In partnership with
American Conservation Film Festival
Potomac Valley Audubon Society
HHMI Tangled Bank Studios
September 7 – 10

The goal of the week is to promote awareness of the relationships between plants, pollinators, and
people and to provide opportunities to engage with the library. Activities will be offered throughout
the day and into the evening for children and adults of all ages. All activities will be held at the
Library unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, September 7
Morning
● 10:15 AM – Children/Family Program – Illustrated Bee talk with Mike Austin. Learn about
bees and what makes them special with beekeeper and artist Mike Austin. Participants are
encouraged to “draw along” and view some of the special equipment beekeepers use.
● 11:00 AM – Children’s Program sponsored by Sue Mellott of PVAS – We are the
Gardeners! Read stories about gardening; children will receive seeds to take home and
plant.
Lunch time
● 12:30 PM Pollinator Picnic – Bring a bag lunch and learn about the plans for the Habitat
Gardens and Landscape with designer Peggy Bowers. Drinks and dessert provided by the
Garden Stewards.
Afternoon
● 2:00 – 4:00 PM – Nature Scavenger Hunt/Citizen Science sponsored by PVAS (Amy
Thomas and Laurel Schwartz) – Learn how to use iNaturalist and Seek apps to identify
plants and insects that live near the Library. Contribute your data to establish a baseline as
we transform the landscape of the Library to a habitat for pollinators.
Evening
●  6:30 – Guided Bird Walk with PVAS volunteers Nancy & Elliot Kirshbaum – learn to use the
Merlin app, binoculars, and spotting scopes as well as the birds that live around the Library.

Thursday, September 8
Morning
● 10:15 AM – Children’s Program sponsored by PVAS (Amy Thomas and Laurel
Schwartz) – Garden Helpers: Pollinators. Read stories and do crafts about butterflies
and bees and then use insect nets to go on a butterfly and bee safari!

Friday, September 9
Morning
● 7:30 AM – Adult Program – Guided Bird Walk – Learn to use the Merlin app, binoculars,
and spotting scopes as well as the birds that live around the Library.
● 7:30 AM – Children’s Program – story walk (up all day) – sponsored by PVAS –
Meadowview Street and craft; draw a picture of the what the library grounds will look like.
● 10:15 AM – Children’s Program sponsored by PVAS (Amy Thomas and Laurel
Schwartz) – Plants Can’t Sit Still. Read stories about the many ways seeds spread. Then
explore a variety of seeds from trees and flowers.
Afternoon
● 1:00 PM – Chalk Talk – draw along with artist Doug Pfifer and create a beautiful
sidewalk mural featuring bees and butterflies and dragonflies. For all ages. Chalk
provided. Learn as you go.
Evening 
● 6:00 – 10:00 PM – Bringing Nature Home – Frank Center, Shepherd University –
featuring the film My Garden and presentation by Doug Tallamy. FREE. Ticket
information and reservation (required) – https://bit.ly/TallamyShepherdstown.

Saturday, September 10
Morning
● 9:00 AM – Family Program – BioBlitz! Learn how to use iNaturalist and Seek to identify
plants and insects that live around the library. Contribute your data to the library baseline so
we can see the impact of building gardens.
● 11:00 AM – Chalk Talk – Draw along with artist Doug Pfifer and create a beautiful
sidewalk mural featuring bees and butterflies and dragonflies. For all ages. Chalk
provided. Learn as you go.
● 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Planting – refreshments provided by Garden Stewards. If planting is
not possible, seeds and pots provided to plant and take home. Two short films, The Power
of Pollinators, and Sym-BEE-o-sis and explore the mysteries of pollinators, especially bees.